Chapter 62: [62] Hey, Nice Cage
The room went silent. Several students turned to stare at him in horror.
Thalia’s expression didn’t change, but something flickered in her purple eyes. "Trapped? In what sense?"
"Your Soul Imprint looks like electrical circuits. Beautiful, but rigid—following predetermined paths." He kept his tone casual, as if discussing the weather. "You’re the Last Echo of the Sinclair clan. I wonder if those paths were designed by you or for you."
Someone gasped. Alexander shot Xavier a warning look. Phantom remained still, observing.
"An interesting observation." Thalia tilted her head slightly, studying him. Her purple eyes narrowed just enough to show she was reassessing him. "The Sinclair legacy is both gift and responsibility. But I assure you, Mr. Valentine, I choose which circuits to activate."
Xavier nodded, maintaining eye contact. "Makes sense. Just seems like a heavy weight, being the last of anything."
"And what would you know of legacy, Mr. Valentine?"
"Nothing," Xavier admitted with a small shrug. "I’m just a guy from nowhere important who got lucky with an Awakening. But I’ve noticed people with big names sometimes forget they’re allowed to just be people."
A muscle tightened in Thalia’s jaw—so subtle most would miss it. "The Sinclair name doesn’t trap me, it guides me. Though I appreciate your concern for my personal freedom."
"Not concern," Xavier corrected. "Curiosity. Your technique was..." He paused, searching for the right word. "Honest."
The tension in the room shifted. Students who’d been horrified now looked confused. Even Phantom tilted his head slightly.